# Kentucky's 30th Senate district

Kentucky's 30th Senatorial district is one of 38 districts in the Kentucky Senate. Located in the eastern part of the state, it comprises the counties of Breathitt, Estill, Lee, Leslie, Magoffin, Morgan, Perry, Powell, and Wolfe. It has been represented by Brandon Smith (R–Hazard) since 2008. As of 2023, the district had a population of 117,974.

## Voter registration

On January 1, 2025, the district had 86,081 registered voters, who were registered with the following parties.
| Party | Party | Registration | Registration |
| Party | Party | Voters | % |
| | Democratic | 43,815 | 50.90 |
| | Republican | 37,599 | 43.68 |
| | Independent | 2,277 | 2.65 |
| | Libertarian | 203 | 0.24 |
| | Green | 40 | 0.05 |
| | Constitution | 23 | 0.03 |
| | Socialist Workers | 7 | 0.01 |
| | Reform | 3 | 0.00 |
| | "Other" | 2,114 | 2.46 |
| Total | Total | 86,081 | 100.00 |
| Source: Kentucky State Board of Elections ||||

## Election results from statewide races
### 2014 – 2020

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2014 | Senator | McConnell 65.8 - 30.9% |
| 2015 | Governor | Bevin 61.2 - 35.4% |
| 2015 | Secretary of State | Knipper 55.5 - 44.5% |
| 2015 | Attorney General | Westerfield 57.3 - 42.7% |
| 2015 | Auditor of Public Accounts | Harmon 57.9 - 42.1% |
| 2015 | State Treasurer | Ball 55.8 - 44.2% |
| 2015 | Commissioner of Agriculture | Quarles 65.5 - 34.5% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 79.2 - 18.2% |
| 2016 | Senator | Paul 65.4 - 34.6% |
| 2019 | Governor | Bevin 57.4 - 40.7% |
| 2019 | Secretary of State | Adams 64.8 - 35.2% |
| 2019 | Attorney General | Cameron 63.2 - 36.8% |
| 2019 | Auditor of Public Accounts | Harmon 66.8 - 30.9% |
| 2019 | State Treasurer | Ball 70.0 - 30.0% |
| 2019 | Commissioner of Agriculture | Quarles 66.8 - 31.1% |
| 2020 | President | Trump 80.1 - 18.6% |
| 2020 | Senator | McConnell 73.8 - 22.4% |
| 2020 | Amendment 1 | 57.1 - 42.9% |
| 2020 | Amendment 2 | 64.3 - 35.7% |

### 2022 – present

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2022 | Senator | Paul 71.8 - 28.2% |
| 2022 | Amendment 1 | 53.3 - 46.7% |
| 2022 | Amendment 2 | 59.7 - 40.3% |
| 2023 | Governor | Cameron 50.3 - 49.7% |
| 2023 | Secretary of State | Adams 67.1 - 32.9% |
| 2023 | Attorney General | Coleman 65.5 - 34.5% |
| 2023 | Auditor of Public Accounts | Ball 68.2 - 31.8% |
| 2023 | State Treasurer | Metcalf 63.0 - 37.0% |
| 2023 | Commissioner of Agriculture | Shell 67.7 - 32.3% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 80.4 - 18.1% |
| 2024 | Amendment 1 | 65.0 - 35.0% |
| 2024 | Amendment 2 | 65.1 - 34.9% |

## List of members representing the district

| Member | Party | Years | Electoral history | District location |
| Wilson Palmer (Cynthiana) | Democratic | January 1, 1962 – January 1, 1974 | Elected in 1961. Reelected in 1965. Reelected in 1969. Lost renomination. | 1944–1964 Bracken, Grant, Harrison, Nicholas, Pendleton, and Robertson Counties. |
| Wilson Palmer (Cynthiana) | Democratic | January 1, 1962 – January 1, 1974 | Elected in 1961. Reelected in 1965. Reelected in 1969. Lost renomination. | 1964–1972 |
| Wilson Palmer (Cynthiana) | Democratic | January 1, 1962 – January 1, 1974 | Elected in 1961. Reelected in 1965. Reelected in 1969. Lost renomination. | 1972–1974 |
| Thomas Ward (Versailles) | Democratic | January 1, 1974 – January 31, 1977 | Elected in 1973. Resigned to become executive director of the Governor's Task Force on Welfare. | 1974–1984 |
| Ed Ford (Cynthiana) | Democratic | January 1, 1978 – January 1, 1995 | Elected in 1977. Reelected in 1981. Reelected in 1986. Reelected in 1990. Retired. | 1974–1984 |
| Ed Ford (Cynthiana) | Democratic | January 1, 1978 – January 1, 1995 | Elected in 1977. Reelected in 1981. Reelected in 1986. Reelected in 1990. Retired. | 1984–1993 Bourbon, Fayette (part), Harrison, Nicholas, Robertson, Scott, and Woodford Counties. |
| Ed Ford (Cynthiana) | Democratic | January 1, 1978 – January 1, 1995 | Elected in 1977. Reelected in 1981. Reelected in 1986. Reelected in 1990. Retired. | 1993–1997 |
| Denny Nunnelley (Versailles) | Democratic | January 1, 1995 – January 1, 1999 | Elected in 1994. Lost renomination. | 1993–1997 |
| Denny Nunnelley (Versailles) | Democratic | January 1, 1995 – January 1, 1999 | Elected in 1994. Lost renomination. | 1997–2003 |
| Ed Miller (Cynthiana) | Democratic | January 1, 1999 – January 1, 2003 | Elected in 1998. Redistricted to the 28th district and lost renomination. | 1997–2003 |
| Daniel Mongiardo (Hazard) | Democratic | January 1, 2003 – December 11, 2007 | Redistricted from the 17th district and reelected in 2002. Reelected in 2006. Resigned after being elected Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky. | 2003–2015 |
| Brandon Smith (Hazard) | Republican | February 11, 2008 – present | Elected to finish Mongiardo's term. Reelected in 2010. Reelected in 2014. Reelected in 2018. Reelected in 2022. | 2003–2015 |
| Brandon Smith (Hazard) | Republican | February 11, 2008 – present | Elected to finish Mongiardo's term. Reelected in 2010. Reelected in 2014. Reelected in 2018. Reelected in 2022. | 2015–2023 |
| Brandon Smith (Hazard) | Republican | February 11, 2008 – present | Elected to finish Mongiardo's term. Reelected in 2010. Reelected in 2014. Reelected in 2018. Reelected in 2022. | 2023–present |

## Elections
### 2008 special

2008 Kentucky Senate 30th district special election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Brandon Smith | 10,409 | 51.0 |
| | Democratic | Scott Alexander | 10,008 | 49.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,417 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |